WHAT'S NEW−ARCHIVE 2003/February

Activities of the TRON Advanced Technology Research Group

During the current fiscal year, the TRON Advanced Technology Research Group has brought many technological developments to public attention and reported on several technical issues: T-Engine technological analysis and project updates; the innovative technological possibilities of the eTRON, a secure data carrier chip system that will play a key role in future ubiquitous network environments; the latest RFID technology, a new wireless identification technology that might replace barcodes; and the technological details and roadmap for the FeliCa contactless smart card, including sample applications for individual sectors. The group has also conducted research on trends in advanced technology, covering many fields. TRON Project Leader Ken Sakamura will continue to brief us on the latest technological advances, while member companies will make announcements as appropriate in order to encourage more in-depth discussion. The group will seek more members after the start of the new fiscal year, and will encourage all those who are interested to join.

Personal Media's "File Locker" File Encryption Security Tool

Personal Media Corporation has launched a security tool that uses an eTRON card to encrypt electronic computer files. With File Locker, users can simply drag and drop files or folders to encrypt or decrypt them. Users can specify file access privileges for various groups (i.e., for different departments, job classifications, or projects). Critical data can be securely e-mailed by providing the sender and recipient with cards granting the same access privileges beforehand. File Locker runs on Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP and requires a DOS/V computer with a USB port. The File Locker system retails at 98,000 yen (not including sales tax)and comes with an easy-to-use contactless reader/writer, and seven eTRON cards. File Locker website: http://www.personal-media.co.jp/flock/welcome.html

μITRON-specification "ThreadX-mITRON" OS from Grape Systems

Grape Systems Inc. has independently developed the ThreadX-μITRON, a real-time OS based on μITRON specification. This RTOS is remarkably compact (at its smallest, 5 KB using only μITRON functions), boasts the fastest response time in the industry, and has been registered at TRON Association's product repository. Because its API names are based on objects found in the realtime systems, beginners can quickly understand and start to use the ThreadX-μITRON. In addition, it is implemented in C language mainly with a little bit of assembly language routines. The availability of the source code implementation makes the operation analysis easy. Many different processors can run ThreadX-μITRON, and the middleware available ensures wide compatibility. Grape Systems also provides porting services on request. Japanese product documentation is available and a responsive support network is in place. For further details, please visit http://www.grape.co.jp/el/threadxitron.html

Technical Seminar Program on Real-Time Systems

The Education and Promotion Group has studied the prospect of holding technical seminars on real-time systems, and from fiscal year 2003 such seminars will be organized along the following lines. Introductory seminars mainly for technical specialists new to the field. These seminars will impart the principles and core knowledge of real-time multitask systems common to ITRON and T-Kernel. Practical seminars instructing the application of knowledge. These use the ITRON and T-Kernel development platforms as instructional materials to teach development technology for real-time embedded systems in a more specific and practical way. A collaboration is planned with TRON Association member companies that are planning to hold their own technical seminars. Cooperation with the public sector and related organizations will be sought to make the seminars more nationwide in scope. The group is moving forward under these guidelines, and we encourage related organizations and companies to contribute to the program.

The University of Tokyo Launches a Project to Build Multi-Kanji Architecture

From 2002 to 2005, the University of Tokyo will conduct a research project to produce a multi-kanji system using TRON technology. The four-year project is aimed at establishing a platform system with advanced multi-kanji processing that incorporates TRON architecture. The fields that stand to benefit from the results of this research include: support for Asian studies in academia; social applications such as electronic government programs and applications that process a significant number of characters such as the Basic Residential Registers Network System (Juki Net); and support for publishing, printing, and literature. The research will be supervised by Sakamura Laboratory of the University of Tokyo with specific kanji-related assistance offered by the Institute of Oriental Culture, University of Tokyo.

Yokogawa Digital Computer Corporation's T-Engine Board

The T-Engine developed by the Yokogawa Digital Computer Corporation takes advantage of the energy efficiency of an ARM core and offers built-in functions that render it suitable for use as a development platform for sophisticated handsets, PDAs, electronic books, e-tickets, intelligent home appliances, and in-vehicle IT devices. The operation of the prototype is nearly identical to the final product, so demonstrations can be arranged using evaluation models. Expanding on the available configurations beyond the ARM core version, Yokogawa Digital Computer will also offer a mT-Engine board compatible with the Fujitsu FR400 series (MB93403) in the second quarter of 2003. - Yokogawa Digital Computer's T-Engine Solution T-Engine hardware design, production, and sales (table 1) Development Support for all T-Engine models using T-Engine ICE and monitor environment. advicePLUS will support kernel task debugging. Offering various middleware devices, commissioning of porting development, and more. URL: http://www.ydc.co.jp/emb.html Email: t-engine@fmc.ydc.co.jp